are we just automotive magpies?

[DodgyGeezer]

I was on another forum discussing my probable next car and someone came up with the perfectly 'reasonable' question of...

"what's wrong with the current car? Is it so bad you need to spend around xxx $ to replace it? "


now obviously there's absolutely nothing wrong with the current car. It's fully paid for, needs no work, looks brilliant (IMO) etc etc It just got me to thinking that I'm not the only person like this so what drives us to replace something (damn near) perfect with something that's not measurably better (different colour, even more unusable power)?

[DanielSan]

Too many different cars to try and not enough time and/or funds to try them all. So experience as many as you possibly can.n

[Huzzah]

DodgyGeezer said:

I was on another forum discussing my probable next car and someone came up with the perfectly 'reasonable' question of...

"what's wrong with the current car? Is it so bad you need to spend around xxx $ to replace it? "


now obviously there's absolutely nothing wrong with the current car. It's fully paid for, needs no work, looks brilliant (IMO) etc etc It just got me to thinking that I'm not the only person like this so what drives us to replace something (damn near) perfect with something that's not measurably better (different colour, even more unusable power)?

The human condition of dissatisfaction combined with the comparative ease of changing a car (compared to a house/career/spouse)

[brillomaster]

For most people, its either because they're keeping up with next door, don't want to have to MOT a car or think a car with over 40k/60k/100k will be so unreliable that its only good to be scrapped.

I don't subscribe to any of these thoughts, which is why I still have my near 180k miles BMW 330d. It was, and still is, a great car.

[GetCarter]

I've moved house 8 times. New places, new views, new experiences.

I change cars for the same reasons. BMW, Aston, Audi, Porsche, Caterham etc

Some want to drive a BMW 330 for 180k miles. Nothing wrong with that. I prefer change. It's just a personal thing.

Call me a magpie. The term probably fits.

[Robertb]

Sometimes just wanting something different is justification, or life and your priorities change.

[ShortBeardy]

Rampant consumerism, boredom, effective marketing, a skewed perspective of self worth or merely the desire to `better oneself' and often and in no small part, a lack of self control when it comes to long term fiscal responsibility. But Magpie is not a bad description.

[vikingaero]

I love the road tax argument for a new car. And with these people it's road tax, not VED.

"£165 for road tax! I'm going to get one that costs £35". Conveniently forgetting the £15k mumflies for the new(er) car. And rather than take out a cheap loan with their bank, they'll go for a dealer loan at 19.7%.

[ChocolateFrog]

Money is abundant for say half a million people in this country, more than they'd ever need a lifetime or two.

In that situation if you like cars you might as well indulge yourself.

The vast majority don't chop and change on a whim.

[Hoofy]

DanielSan said:

Too many different cars to try and not enough time and/or funds to try them all. So experience as many as you possibly can.n

Yep. If you're interested in cars, then it's just what you do.

I am daily trying to convince myself to sell the Porsche so I can try something else. It's just too good in so many ways, though. I'm tempted with selling the TT shed but I've put a lot of money into it because it's also good in many other ways (like if I fancy a midnight run and don't want to ps off the neighbours). Sadly, I don't have space for third car and I'm always thinking about having a change.

[Pitre]

I've changed my car many times, but I got to my great age having never owned a Merc or a Jag.

Now I finally have a Merc - and I think it unlikely I'll ever get a Jag...

[swisstoni]

I keep cars for more than 10 years on a average. Changing cars over frequently is an excellent way to get rid of money.

[brillomaster]

We should really clarify whether we're talking daily drivers or fun cars.

I really don't get those who change one generic suv blob for a newer generic suv blob. But plenty of people round here are rocking 25 plate cars/blobs, so must be a popular practice.

Fun cars however... life is short, lots of interesting cars to try. If you buy cars near the bottom of their depreciation curve, you can have a couple of years of enjoyment for minimal cost.

[Lincsls1]

ShortBeardy said:

Rampant consumerism, boredom, effective marketing, a skewed perspective of self worth or merely the desire to `better oneself' and often and in no small part, a lack of self control when it comes to long term fiscal responsibility. But Magpie is not a bad description.

Good answer and one I agree with.

[Lester H]

ChocolateFrog said:

Money is abundant for say half a million people in this country, more than they'd ever need a lifetime or two.

In that situation if you like cars you might as well indulge yourself.

The vast majority don't chop and change on a whim.

The few seriously rich folk I know don’t chop and change regularly.

[Earthdweller]

Lester H said:

The few seriously rich folk I know don t chop and change regularly.

I'm not seriously rich but the older and more disposable income I have the less inclination I have to change cars

Conversely a friend of mine is on her 14th Kia Sportage, picked up on 1st Sept and in a few months it'll be traded for another one

Mental

Edited by Earthdweller on Saturday 27th December 20:07